Why Now? Being Change Ready

By Executive Director JULI WILLEMAN, Iowa Beta

Who we are as a fraternity and what we stand for has never been more relevant. We are developing the confident women leaders our world needs. And, now more than ever, we must stay true to our values and focused on our mission so the good work we do can rise above today’s turbulent landscape of fraternity and sorority life.

There are critical moments when we, as Pi Phis, must put our values squarely on the table to show everyone what guides us. That is never truer than where we are today. From threats to our freedom of association, to a culture of alcohol abuse and hazing with far-reaching and sometimes tragic implications, to the sexual assault reports on campuses across North America, we are faced daily with choices which could lead to the end of fraternity and sorority life as we have come to know it.

To ensure the legacy of Pi Phi for the next generation, there will always be more work to do. The decisions that were right for the organization yesterday are not necessarily right for tomorrow. There are inevitable changes occurring on college campuses and in the greater society where our alumnae and collegians live every day. We must listen to the needs of our members. And, we must make sure we are ready and able to evolve with those needs.

It is with all of this in mind that we built and executed the 2017–2019 strategic plan. Each and every day, our volunteers and staff work tirelessly to challenge the status quo and fulfill the goals identified in the plan. Much of the plan centers around change. A new Headquarters staffing model was launched last summer. Legislation will be proposed at our upcoming convention to modify our current volunteer and chapter structure. The SHINE THROUGH campaign is in full swing and continues to inspire members to ensure the future of our sisterhood; And, we have partnered with the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) on key change initiatives designed to make the Conference more nimble and responsive to the most pressing challenges facing students, campus partners and the greater Panhellenic community (more information about all of these initiatives can be found online at www.pibetaphi.org/news).

All this work is done through a lens of relevancy and simplification to ensure we remain focused on what is most important — the Sincere Friendship upon which we were founded.

Change is inevitable. We must be ready. My goal is to make sure we have a sustainable organizational model to ensure Pi Phi thrives for years to come, allowing future generations to always “come home” to Pi Beta Phi.

Pi Beta Phi Executive Director JULI WILLEMAN, Iowa Beta, at Convention 2017.